# std::filesystem::read_symlink

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< cpp‎ | filesystem

Defined in header `<filesystem>` |  |
std::filesystem::path read_symlink( const std::filesystem::path& p ); | (1) | (since C++17)
std::filesystem::path read_symlink( const std::filesystem::path& p, std::error_code& ec ); | (2) | (since C++17)

If the path p refers to a symbolic link, returns a new path object which refers to the target of that symbolic link.

It is an error if p does not refer to a symbolic link.

The non-throwing overload returns an empty path on errors.

### Parameters

p | - | path to a symlink
ec | - | out-parameter for error reporting in the non-throwing overload

### Return value

The target of the symlink (which may not necessarily exist).

### Exceptions

Any overload not marked `noexcept` may throw std::bad_alloc if memory allocation fails.

1) Throws std::filesystem::filesystem_error on underlying OS API errors, constructed with p as the first path argument and the OS error code as the error code argument.
2) Sets a std::error_code& parameter to the OS API error code if an OS API call fails, and executes ec.`clear`() if no errors occur.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <filesystem>
    #include <iostream>

    namespace fs = std::filesystem;

    int main()
    {
        for (fs::path p : {"/usr/bin/gcc", "/bin/cat", "/bin/mouse"})
        {
            std::cout << p;
            fs::exists(p) ?
                fs::is_symlink(p) ?
                    std::cout << " -> " << fs::read_symlink(p) << '\n' :
                    std::cout << " exists but it is not a symlink\n" :
                std::cout << " does not exist\n";
        }
    }

Possible output:

    "/usr/bin/gcc" -> "gcc-5"
    "/bin/cat" exists but it is not a symlink
    "/bin/mouse" does not exist

### See also

is_symlink (C++17) | checks whether the argument refers to a symbolic link (function)
create_symlinkcreate_directory_symlink (C++17)(C++17) | creates a symbolic link (function)
copy_symlink (C++17) | copies a symbolic link (function)
statussymlink_status (C++17)(C++17) | determines file attributes determines file attributes, checking the symlink target (function)

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